How To Complain & Get Results
Feel free to print/reprint this article in its entirety
in your ezine or website as long as you leave all the
links in place. Don't modify the content and include the
resource box as listed. Please send a note when it is used.
Thank you.
word count: 625
character width: 60
Title: "How To Complain & Get Results"
- by Kathy Thompson
writing4u@faceuptoit-youcan.com
(c) Kathy Thompson - All Rights Reserved
www.faceuptoit-youcan.com
"How To Complain & Get Results"
What are you upset about? Are you angry, annoyed,
irritated about something or someone? Do you have
a grievance? Have you been offended or treated
unfairly? You can complain and get results. If you
have a problem with your school, city, county,
state, or national government you can do something
about it. Or if you have disputes with your
landlord, a business or company, you can use the
following steps to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SEND A LETTER.
You will want your letter to stand out. Put yourself
in the place of the person receiving your letter,
and remember that your goal is not to get revenge
or angry, but to get results. If you want results,
the best way is to make your letter short, factual,
and reasonable.
HOW TO SAY IT - State the problem clearly and fairly.
What is it that is bothering you? What needs to be
done to correct it? Give all the important facts.
Provide complete and accurate names, addresses, and
information. Include appropriate documentation.
Tell why you think it is important that the complaint
should be taken care of. Request a reasonable possible
solution. In closing, express your confidence that
the matter will be handled to your satisfaction.
WHAT NOT TO SAY - Avoid sarcasm, accusations, abuse,
blaming, smart remarks, and emotional outbursts. You
will only antagonize the very person who can help you.
Negative letters are not effective, and they will only
make you look foolish. Do not hint for free products or
"compensation" beyond what you are due. Don't threaten
to sue. This is generally recognized as a bluff.
People usually leave that to their lawyer. You might
indicate (if you mean it), that you are going to take
them to small claims court. This is one possible way
of achieving a quick inexpensive solution.
WRITING TIPS - Write the letter soon after it happens.
In the first line of your letter state clearly what you
want from the company. Then state it again in the last
line. Place more emphasis on how the problem can be
resolved and less emphasis on details of the mix-up,
your reactions and feelings, and what a disaster it
has all been. Keep track of the names and titles of
the individuals you have spoken with, the date, time,
and outcome of each conversation, and include this
information.
If your complaints have several items/components, set
these items off in a numbered or bulleted list to make
it easier for the reader to see and respond to them.
Assume that the person you are writing to is unaware
of the problem. Say that you are sure someone would
like to know what has occurred. Write with the
assumption that the reader will be willing to resolve
the problem. Stick to one issue. State facts, avoid
emotions. Make sure you send it to the right person.
Use a light touch when possible (a little humor).
Assume that the person is going to help you, and let
this show in your letter. Try to get the person on your
side by pointing out something you have in common.
Close with an optimistic note. "I'm sure you will have
a solution for this problem."
Writer, Speaker, Profiler, Kathy Thompson has been writing
for over 25 years. Kathy Will write words--just the
way you want them--anything you need written.
Contact Kathy Thompson at;
writing4u@faceuptoit-youcan.com
How to Start a Business
Businesses come in all shapes and sizes. Some business owners started as kids, selling lemonade on the side of the street, while other business owners have bloomed later after years of careful planning. Whatever stage of life you're in, owning a business can be one of the most rewarding experiences you'll ever have. Starting a business is not for everyone though. Starting a business requires inspiration, hard work, planning and persistence.
Inspiration
The inspiration of business owners can range from not having a boss, to making more money to improving the local community, to any number of other motivations. Whatever the reason, having strong inspiration will help you get through anything, including starting a business.
Brainstorm
After you've been inspired to start your business, brainstorming is a good next step. What do you like doing? What does the world need? What can you provide that others can't or haven't? After you have a bunch of ideas, think up some more. It is, after all, the unique idea that often makes a business financially successful.
Research
Finding out what potential competitors are up to can give you ideas and also help define how your business will be different from others. Market research can help determine what products and services to offer. Further more, reading up on a variety of business topics, like advertising, marketing, management, unique selling points and more, can give you a huge edge.
Funding
Most businesses require some sort of funding to pay for all of the things listed above. In today's world, where an EBay account can be opened and items listed for next to nothing, don't be fooled into thinking that starting a business is going to cost tons of cash. Some businesses will require serious money to be invested upfront, while some home-based businesses can require a few hundred bucks or less.
After making estimates of your expenses, you will have a goal as to how much you will need to run your business. If your new business is going to be your only source of income, it is best to have at least two years of savings to allow your business time to become profitable. If you will have another source of income, such as a part time job, then you may have more flexibility in allowing your business the time it needs to float on its own.
Funding can come from savings, bank loans, friends and family, investors, donors, credit cards or other options. It seems better to over estimate your needs than to underestimate them and be left with not enough cash.
Revenue Flow
How will your business make money? If it is selling a product, how much will actually be made from each sale? When making this calculation and factoring in overhead estimations one can then determine how much needs to be sold to break even. Don't sell yourself short because you're a new business.
Legal
There are hundreds of laws that pertain to running a business. To understand and abide by all of these laws, legal consul is in order. Consulting a lawyer will also help protect your business with properly written contracts, terms of services, nondisclosure agreements and the likes of such. It is much better to have the confidence of having consulted with a lawyer than to wait until you really need one, when the damage has already been done. A poorly written contract, or no contract at all, can cost a business huge sums.
Employees
Having employees opens the door onto new realms of legal issues including tax withholdings, worker's comp, rules regarding minimum wage, overtime, required postings, record keeping and so on and so on. Having a specialist to handle these factors is very helpful to companies employing more than the owner.
Accounting
Software like Quick Books and Quicken can help the small business owner keep track of business accounts much more easily than without. Still, using a good CPA is highly recommended for helping uncover expenses and rebates and giving you peace of mind should you ever get audited.
As with all things, going for the cheapest business solutions will often cause a headache down the road. Spending a little more on an experienced professional, complete with references, goes a long way when you really need it to. Choosing a lawyer, CPA or Payroll Company based on cost alone can get you in big trouble. There are reasonably priced professional services out there, but make sure to shop around for one with good references and qualifications before choosing.
Halstatt Pires is with MarketingTitan.com - an Internet marketing firm in San Diego offering automated web site systems through BusinessCreatorPro.com.
Customer Service Leads to Customer Loyalty
All customers want and expect superior customer service, and it is all too important that we give it to them. Otherwise, our competition will.Your customer doesn't want to be treated like another statistic along an assembly line. They want to be treated with respect. It is very important that your customer realizes just how important their business is to you.Imagine if you were a daily customer at a bank, restaurant, or some other establishment. And every day that you walked in, a sales associate would take care of your business, than hurry you out the door, without so much as a hi, bye, or even making eye contact for that matter.Okay, so you don't necessarily go to these places to make new friends, but you would think that the experience could be just a little bit positive.Maybe this isn't enough to make someone take their business elsewhere. However, it just might if they were approached by your competition, and your competition gave them an idea of just how the grass can be greener on the other side, and managed to swipe that customer from you. And if they did, would you even realize it?The most important thing to your customer when doing business is customer service. People want to be treated with respect. They want to be addressed by name, they want their phone calls returned, and they want their problems resolved in a timely fashion.Customer service, believe it or not, is more important to people than the amount of the product, or the over all fees' they have to pay.So before you discuss pricing, give them great customer service up front.When I was in banking, I had an elderly couple take their business to a new bank that just opened across the street offering all kinds of special promotions at their grand opening. They happened to be very good customers of mine, and they were sad to go. They told me that the new bank was able to offer them the same products I could, except the products were free.I told them that although the products may be free, they would never experience the customer service there that they received here.They understood, but left by telling me that it just made economic sense for them to leave.A month later, they came back. Needless to say, they were not happy with the other bank's customer service.I wasn't at all surprised and was only too happy to have them back.Excellent customer service is a great way to build customer relationships, and also build customer loyalty.When I say customer loyalty, I mean they won't be so quick to jump ship when approached by your competitor.People love to have the peace of mind that whatever product or service they have with you is secure with you. They like knowing that if ever there is a problem, or if they have a question, you will be there to resolve their issue, regardless of what it may be.Excellent customer service also leads to loyalty because if your customers like the way you treat them, they will be happy to refer their friends and family to you.Providing excellent customer service to gain loyalty is quite easy. People love to be greeted by name along with a smile. They love to have their problems resolved quickly, so make sure they know that they can depend on you. They like to have their phone calls returned, so return them.Customer service is key to retaining your customers, and obtaining all of their business. It is also a great way to obtain referrals from them.Trust me, treat your customers the way you would treat your friends or family and they will stick with you forever, and provide you with a lot of business. Good luck.This article may be reproduced by anyone at any time, as long as the authors name and reference links are kept in tact and active. About The Author:Jay Conners has more than fifteen years of experience in the banking and Mortgage Industry, He is the owner of http://www.jconners.com, a mortgage resource site, he is also the owner of http://www.callprospect.com, a mortgage lead company.
in your ezine or website as long as you leave all the
links in place. Don't modify the content and include the
resource box as listed. Please send a note when it is used.
Thank you.
word count: 625
character width: 60
Title: "How To Complain & Get Results"
- by Kathy Thompson
writing4u@faceuptoit-youcan.com
(c) Kathy Thompson - All Rights Reserved
www.faceuptoit-youcan.com
"How To Complain & Get Results"
What are you upset about? Are you angry, annoyed,
irritated about something or someone? Do you have
a grievance? Have you been offended or treated
unfairly? You can complain and get results. If you
have a problem with your school, city, county,
state, or national government you can do something
about it. Or if you have disputes with your
landlord, a business or company, you can use the
following steps to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SEND A LETTER.
You will want your letter to stand out. Put yourself
in the place of the person receiving your letter,
and remember that your goal is not to get revenge
or angry, but to get results. If you want results,
the best way is to make your letter short, factual,
and reasonable.
HOW TO SAY IT - State the problem clearly and fairly.
What is it that is bothering you? What needs to be
done to correct it? Give all the important facts.
Provide complete and accurate names, addresses, and
information. Include appropriate documentation.
Tell why you think it is important that the complaint
should be taken care of. Request a reasonable possible
solution. In closing, express your confidence that
the matter will be handled to your satisfaction.
WHAT NOT TO SAY - Avoid sarcasm, accusations, abuse,
blaming, smart remarks, and emotional outbursts. You
will only antagonize the very person who can help you.
Negative letters are not effective, and they will only
make you look foolish. Do not hint for free products or
"compensation" beyond what you are due. Don't threaten
to sue. This is generally recognized as a bluff.
People usually leave that to their lawyer. You might
indicate (if you mean it), that you are going to take
them to small claims court. This is one possible way
of achieving a quick inexpensive solution.
WRITING TIPS - Write the letter soon after it happens.
In the first line of your letter state clearly what you
want from the company. Then state it again in the last
line. Place more emphasis on how the problem can be
resolved and less emphasis on details of the mix-up,
your reactions and feelings, and what a disaster it
has all been. Keep track of the names and titles of
the individuals you have spoken with, the date, time,
and outcome of each conversation, and include this
information.
If your complaints have several items/components, set
these items off in a numbered or bulleted list to make
it easier for the reader to see and respond to them.
Assume that the person you are writing to is unaware
of the problem. Say that you are sure someone would
like to know what has occurred. Write with the
assumption that the reader will be willing to resolve
the problem. Stick to one issue. State facts, avoid
emotions. Make sure you send it to the right person.
Use a light touch when possible (a little humor).
Assume that the person is going to help you, and let
this show in your letter. Try to get the person on your
side by pointing out something you have in common.
Close with an optimistic note. "I'm sure you will have
a solution for this problem."
Writer, Speaker, Profiler, Kathy Thompson has been writing
for over 25 years. Kathy Will write words--just the
way you want them--anything you need written.
Contact Kathy Thompson at;
writing4u@faceuptoit-youcan.com
How to Start a Business
Businesses come in all shapes and sizes. Some business owners started as kids, selling lemonade on the side of the street, while other business owners have bloomed later after years of careful planning. Whatever stage of life you're in, owning a business can be one of the most rewarding experiences you'll ever have. Starting a business is not for everyone though. Starting a business requires inspiration, hard work, planning and persistence.
Inspiration
The inspiration of business owners can range from not having a boss, to making more money to improving the local community, to any number of other motivations. Whatever the reason, having strong inspiration will help you get through anything, including starting a business.
Brainstorm
After you've been inspired to start your business, brainstorming is a good next step. What do you like doing? What does the world need? What can you provide that others can't or haven't? After you have a bunch of ideas, think up some more. It is, after all, the unique idea that often makes a business financially successful.
Research
Finding out what potential competitors are up to can give you ideas and also help define how your business will be different from others. Market research can help determine what products and services to offer. Further more, reading up on a variety of business topics, like advertising, marketing, management, unique selling points and more, can give you a huge edge.
Funding
Most businesses require some sort of funding to pay for all of the things listed above. In today's world, where an EBay account can be opened and items listed for next to nothing, don't be fooled into thinking that starting a business is going to cost tons of cash. Some businesses will require serious money to be invested upfront, while some home-based businesses can require a few hundred bucks or less.
After making estimates of your expenses, you will have a goal as to how much you will need to run your business. If your new business is going to be your only source of income, it is best to have at least two years of savings to allow your business time to become profitable. If you will have another source of income, such as a part time job, then you may have more flexibility in allowing your business the time it needs to float on its own.
Funding can come from savings, bank loans, friends and family, investors, donors, credit cards or other options. It seems better to over estimate your needs than to underestimate them and be left with not enough cash.
Revenue Flow
How will your business make money? If it is selling a product, how much will actually be made from each sale? When making this calculation and factoring in overhead estimations one can then determine how much needs to be sold to break even. Don't sell yourself short because you're a new business.
Legal
There are hundreds of laws that pertain to running a business. To understand and abide by all of these laws, legal consul is in order. Consulting a lawyer will also help protect your business with properly written contracts, terms of services, nondisclosure agreements and the likes of such. It is much better to have the confidence of having consulted with a lawyer than to wait until you really need one, when the damage has already been done. A poorly written contract, or no contract at all, can cost a business huge sums.
Employees
Having employees opens the door onto new realms of legal issues including tax withholdings, worker's comp, rules regarding minimum wage, overtime, required postings, record keeping and so on and so on. Having a specialist to handle these factors is very helpful to companies employing more than the owner.
Accounting
Software like Quick Books and Quicken can help the small business owner keep track of business accounts much more easily than without. Still, using a good CPA is highly recommended for helping uncover expenses and rebates and giving you peace of mind should you ever get audited.
As with all things, going for the cheapest business solutions will often cause a headache down the road. Spending a little more on an experienced professional, complete with references, goes a long way when you really need it to. Choosing a lawyer, CPA or Payroll Company based on cost alone can get you in big trouble. There are reasonably priced professional services out there, but make sure to shop around for one with good references and qualifications before choosing.
Halstatt Pires is with MarketingTitan.com - an Internet marketing firm in San Diego offering automated web site systems through BusinessCreatorPro.com.
Customer Service Leads to Customer Loyalty
All customers want and expect superior customer service, and it is all too important that we give it to them. Otherwise, our competition will.Your customer doesn't want to be treated like another statistic along an assembly line. They want to be treated with respect. It is very important that your customer realizes just how important their business is to you.Imagine if you were a daily customer at a bank, restaurant, or some other establishment. And every day that you walked in, a sales associate would take care of your business, than hurry you out the door, without so much as a hi, bye, or even making eye contact for that matter.Okay, so you don't necessarily go to these places to make new friends, but you would think that the experience could be just a little bit positive.Maybe this isn't enough to make someone take their business elsewhere. However, it just might if they were approached by your competition, and your competition gave them an idea of just how the grass can be greener on the other side, and managed to swipe that customer from you. And if they did, would you even realize it?The most important thing to your customer when doing business is customer service. People want to be treated with respect. They want to be addressed by name, they want their phone calls returned, and they want their problems resolved in a timely fashion.Customer service, believe it or not, is more important to people than the amount of the product, or the over all fees' they have to pay.So before you discuss pricing, give them great customer service up front.When I was in banking, I had an elderly couple take their business to a new bank that just opened across the street offering all kinds of special promotions at their grand opening. They happened to be very good customers of mine, and they were sad to go. They told me that the new bank was able to offer them the same products I could, except the products were free.I told them that although the products may be free, they would never experience the customer service there that they received here.They understood, but left by telling me that it just made economic sense for them to leave.A month later, they came back. Needless to say, they were not happy with the other bank's customer service.I wasn't at all surprised and was only too happy to have them back.Excellent customer service is a great way to build customer relationships, and also build customer loyalty.When I say customer loyalty, I mean they won't be so quick to jump ship when approached by your competitor.People love to have the peace of mind that whatever product or service they have with you is secure with you. They like knowing that if ever there is a problem, or if they have a question, you will be there to resolve their issue, regardless of what it may be.Excellent customer service also leads to loyalty because if your customers like the way you treat them, they will be happy to refer their friends and family to you.Providing excellent customer service to gain loyalty is quite easy. People love to be greeted by name along with a smile. They love to have their problems resolved quickly, so make sure they know that they can depend on you. They like to have their phone calls returned, so return them.Customer service is key to retaining your customers, and obtaining all of their business. It is also a great way to obtain referrals from them.Trust me, treat your customers the way you would treat your friends or family and they will stick with you forever, and provide you with a lot of business. Good luck.This article may be reproduced by anyone at any time, as long as the authors name and reference links are kept in tact and active. About The Author:Jay Conners has more than fifteen years of experience in the banking and Mortgage Industry, He is the owner of http://www.jconners.com, a mortgage resource site, he is also the owner of http://www.callprospect.com, a mortgage lead company.